Passat R36 DSG Tune - Details and Experience

[fried]

Hi all,

I have been considering a DSG tune (for the R36), for some time now, but there's not a tonne of information to read up on apart from commentary such as "it's worth it", "it's not worth it".

Does anyone with a DSG tune on their R36 have specific information on the following

• The specific and different shift points in each gear, in each drive mode (eg S / D); eg in D, what rpm does 1st shift to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd etc.
• Whether there is a change in the shift-speed
• Any changes to fuel economy
• Anything else you think someone should know

Thanks, and appreciate any feedback/experience you can share.

[3C4M Guy]

My Passat is not an R36, but it’s a V6 AWD … so similar. It’s a 2007 (2006 build) with 92,000 km now. I had a Harding Performance DQ250 DSG upgrade done 3 years ago at 65,000 km. This upgrade was based on the latest VAG software version available at that time. The existing data file was downloaded, sent to QLD for modification, then reloaded in a new modified file. I had it done because previously the DSG couldn’t wait to change through all the gears rapidly then sit in 6th even when doing 50 kph. Harding Performance claimed the gearbox would hold gears for longer in D and for less time in S. They also said it would achieve faster gear changes and prevent the jolting into 1st gear to extend both gearbox and clutch pack life.

I can’t give you specific details like rpm or speed change points, but I can talk about impressions. When I first drove the car, I felt it was a big improvement … which is good because it wasn’t cheap! I’d driven a later-year R36 and felt the DSG in that performed better than my 2007 Passat, but this upgrade seemed like another step better again. It made the car more driveable. You could tell that the DSG held gears for longer in D and held gears for less time in S. So it made both D and S more useable. Not sure if I noticed faster changes.

Previously when making a 90 degree turn into a side street around the city, the car would enter the corner in say 5th gear and stay in that gear on exit with no useable power. Several subtle throttle applications on exit would produce no results until the DSG suddenly jolted into 1st gear with lots of revs. This was extremely frustrating! With the DSG tune the car changed down gears when entering a corner in much the same way you would yourself if you were driving a manual. When exiting the corner, the car is already in 2nd gear ready for effective acceleration. Another thing the new program did was prevent 6th gear from being engaged until over 70 kph. I enjoy this.

So at the time I felt it did transform the way the car drives. Of course, since then I’ve got very used to the new tune and now wish it could be taken a step further. S is still pretty much unusable around town because you can accelerate up to say 50 kph and hold that speed but, the engine is revving its head off being held in 2nd and doesn't want to go into 3rd. So it’s far from perfect - just better. I noticed no change in economy. It's possible I'm being overly critical because what I'd really like is a proper manual with 3 pedals!

One important point. If you get this done and then send your car to a dealer you must issue strict instructions "DO NOT REFLASH DSG" or you will lose your upgrade. A dealer told me this.

[fried]

This is really helpful, thank you for taking some time to describe your experience.

I'm still interested, however, in the shift points. What I'd ideally like to do is use those shift points to trial driving (using manual mode) to get a sense of my comfort.

The first step is probably tracking where the car is currently shifting in each gear - which generally (75%) of the time I'm happy with (as I dont like to typically get on higher revs; causing unwanted noise, torquey/bouncy pedal feel etc unless I've decided to try and pull away or accelerate).

But at the same time I do experience the premature up-shift at times I was hoping to have some power.

I have not, however, had the experience where the car jolts back into 1st.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

[kleung]

I'm still interested, however, in the shift points. What I'd ideally like to do is use those shift points to trial driving (using manual mode) to get a sense of my comfort.

I would have thought that for pretty much every modern automatic transmission that the shift points would adapt depending on a number of factors including vehicle speed, throttle position etc. Some even go a step further, like Mitsubishi's INVECS series of transmissions which 'learn' driver habits over time and adapt shift patterns to suit, or Honda's Grade Logic Control which caused the transmission to hold or shift to lower gears when driving up or down hills to improve responsiveness or provide engine braking respectively.

You'll also find that the shift style varies depending on throttle input too. On light throttle the shifts are relaxed, under moderate throttle the shifts are faster and more aggressive, and so on.

[Umai Naa!!]

They are adaptive to an extent.

[3C4M Guy]

I can't really add any more insight because, as kleung correctly points out, the shift points are highly dependent on throttle input. Also, as Umai Naa!! says, the DSG is adaptive.

As an aside I feel that the DSG makes use of an inclinometer. When going up a hill, the transmission will change down and hold a low gear irrespective of throttle position. I've seen a workshop manual that show a sensor in the front lower control arm, but mine doesn't have one.

[kamold]

I can't really add any more insight because, as kleung correctly points out, the shift points are highly dependent on throttle input. Also, as Umai Naa!! says, the DSG is adaptive.

As an aside I feel that the DSG makes use of an inclinometer. When going up a hill, the transmission will change down and hold a low gear irrespective of throttle position. I've seen a workshop manual that show a sensor in the front lower control arm, but mine doesn't have one.

There are lateral and yaw sensors (accelerometers) that are part of the electric park brake module if I remember correctly. G200 and g202 I think

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

[Passat my07]

The sensor on the lower control arm will be for the bi xenon headlight self leveling.

[Radius]

The R36 must DSG must have inclinometer or other gradient influence based on how mine behaves. When in D, it will always apply a varying degree of engine braking going downhill if brakes applied to maintain speed, dopping down to fourth or even third to maintain 60 km/hr. On the other side, I have a particular street with a curve + slight incline around my place that always seems to “confuse” whatever’s governing the DSG and gets it to hold second for a prolonged period. It only ever happens on that specific street LOL.
Overall, the factory D calibration is fine for pottering around in traffic, but I find it suboptimal for normal driving. It’s constantly shifting to maintain revs below 2000 rpm, and makes even the R36 feel sluggish, to the point where I almost regretted getting the R36 when I first got it. That was until I realised how much performance both the DSG and VR6 were capable of when in manual mode.
I’ve found the factory S calibration pretty useless, as it’s way too aggressive even when going for a fun drive. Holds gears unnecessarily even when coasting, revs usually hung at around mid 3000’s. I’ve only ever used it when caught flat-footed in traffic in D and needing to suddenly overtake - flick over to S for a getaway then straight back to D. Otherwise I use the car in manual.
Another quirk is you can’t shift out of first in manual when crawling in traffic unless above around 20 - 30 km/hr, despite that when crawling in D it pretty much goes immediately to 2nd as soon as you start moving. I’m not convinced it actually goes into 2nd though, it seems more like a clutch slip mode as if you go straight to manual whilst crawling in 2nd the gear indicator goes straight back to 1st without any noticeable gear change.
Perhaps just driving it in manual will be satisfying enough instead of a DSG tune? That’ll work around the shift-point calibration issues. And I’d hope that the way the clutch packs are governed by the factory tune will take into account clutch longevity.... I myself would be reluctant to flash the DSG in case it caused excessive strain on the clutches or mechatronics given I’ve had to have the DSG replaced before.